Bryce Dallas Howard has been astonished by the reaction of young film goers to her new Disney movie 'Pete's Dragon'

The 35-year-old actress plays forest ranger Grace Meacham in the fantasy movie, a remake of the studio's 1977 live action/animation crossover which was one of Bryce's favourite films as a child.

Bryce has been amazed by the reaction of younger film goers to the movie and especially to Elliott the Dragon - the best friend of young orphan Pete, played by Oakes Fegley - with all of them believing he is a real creature and not a CGI creation, and she says that's down to the work Disney has done.

Speaking at the film's world premiere at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California, on Monday night (10.08.16), she revealed: "The same way I was affected by 'Pete's Dragon' as a kid, that can still exist today with this film.

"One of my favourite things ever is when after a screening and I'm talking with kids, and they ask, 'What is Elliot like? Where is he now? "It's the idea that Disney's done this again and again; brought these imaginary characters to life, who play an actual role in our childhoods and in a defining way."

Bryce and her husband Seth Gabel's own two kids, nine-year-old son Theodore and four-year-old daughter Beatrice, also love Elliot and believe their mother has worked with a real dragon.

The 'Jurassic World' star - whose dad is Oscar-winning director Ron Howard - was joined on a special green carpet at the premiere by her co-stars Wes Bentley and Oakes as well as a host of celebrities, including Joey Fatone, Rachel Roy and Pete Wentz.